Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia isn’t the only one who thinks junior college play shouldn’t count toward NCAA eligibility.
The 24-year-old is in position to compete for the Heisman Trophy and potentially lead the Commodores to the College Football Playoff this season thanks to a federal court injunction last year that his two years at New Mexico Military Institute not preclude him from playing another season at Vanderbilt.
Now, Pavia’s attorneys aim to set a new precedent nationally by permanently changing the current rule requiring JUCO seasons to be counted toward a player’s four years of NCAA eligibility.
Pavia’s attorney, Ryan Downton, told Front Office Sports that they are preparing to make the original lawsuit a proposed class action, adding several players via an amended complaint, including Vanderbilt’s Tre Richardson, Louisiana Tech’s Andrew Burnette, Virginia Tech’s James Djonkam and Oklahoma State’s Iman Oates.
After Pavia’s injunction was issued in late 2024, the NCAA granted a waiver allowing players an additional year of eligibility if they had already played in college. However, Downton noted that the waiver was only for one year.
Additionally, more than 35 players have since filed similar lawsuits regarding eligibility rules with varying results, and Downton said the class action aims to clear up the lack of clarity currently surrounding eligibility rules.
Pavia played two years at New Mexico Military Institute before transferring to New Mexico State, but argued in federal court that the NCAA’s rules on junior college attendance counting toward eligibility violated antitrust law outlined by the Sherman Act.
Pavia’s representation argued that, in addition to the COVID season waiver granted to athletes after playing in 2020, the NCAA quarterback’s clock should not have started during his college years. He also claimed Pavie could earn more than $1 million in zero compensation in 2025.
Off-the-field legal issues apparently haven’t been a distraction for Pavie, who led the Commodores into the top 10 for the first time since 1947. Pavie passed for 1,569 passing yards and added 438 more on the ground while accounting for 19 total touchdowns this season.
The Commodores (6-1, 2-1 SEC) host the No. 15 Missouri Tigers (6-1, 2-1) on Saturday.
–Field level media
